If she weren’t the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Athletics and Activities, Joellen Podoll says she probably would be an event planner. Yet, in supporting the daily operations of the athletic and extracurricular program, that is exactly what she does! Among her countless duties are reserving buses for the athletic teams and for field trips, overseeing the internal school calendar and the website calendar, and performing a variety of other duties associated with helping student athletes and students involved in extracurricular activities to know where and when they need to be.
Her attention to detail, professionalism, kindness, and patience in all interactions with staff, students, and families has put her in Cuyahoga Heights Schools’ (CHS) Staff Spotlight for January 2026. Podoll was honored for her outstanding dedication, professionalism, and contributions to the school community at the January 21, 2026, Board of Education meeting.
“She is a pleasure to work with,” said Maintenance Supervisor Jim Zurbola, who nominated her for the Staff Spotlight. He credited her exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail to successfully managing and updating event schedules and calendars daily, ensuring accuracy, and communicating changes promptly with all departments.
Podoll joined CHS in August, and though in her position just a short time, has been proactive and thorough in her work, consistently improving processes and procedures to enhance efficiency and communication across the district. Podoll, who grew up on a small farm in Cheboygan, Michigan and attended Michigan State University, credits her work experience in Michigan, Connecticut, Alaska, and Ohio with honing her skills and working with youth. Though she previously worked from home for a number of years, she says her new role “reminds me how much I enjoy being around people. I love getting to know the middle and high school students. Working with the coaches has been a lot of fun and being in the office with Mr. Gerycz is a riot—he keeps us all laughing!”
“Joellen is absolutely amazing at her job, said Paul J. Gerycz, CHS director of Athletics and Activities. “She goes above and beyond to keep the department running smoothly. Her organization and follow through are top-notch and she is always multiple steps ahead of any deadlines that we have.”
Throughout the buzz and activity of her busy days, Podoll is steadfast in her commitment to be kind. “You never know what someone is going through, and everyone is fighting battles we know nothing about. So by being kind you can make a positive impact on people -- most of the time without even knowing it,” said Podoll, who can’t go without her Coke Zero.
Podoll has volunteered for the PTO and the Music Boosters. She also enjoys listening to music, traveling, and being with her family, including Nate, her husband of 17 years, her son, Abram (Bram), a freshman at Cuyahoga Heights High School, and daughter, Maryn, a sixth grader at Cuyahoga Heights Middle School. The family also has two dogs – Ivy, and Mr. Cuddles, who starred as Toto in last year’s high school production of “The Wizard of Oz” – a crested gecko named Squish, and a fish. The family resides in Brooklyn Heights.